Circuit-breaking device.



W.. W. CARPENTER.

CIRCUIT BREAKING DEVICE. APPLICATION' man ocT. 1o. 1ere.

Patented Jan. 22, 1918.

CltCUIT-BREAKING DEVICE.

r earner;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan.. 22, 12112.

Application ledOetober 10, 1916. Serial No. 124,758.

To all 'whom it may] concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER W. CARPEN- Tnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lansdowne, in the county` of Delaware and State ot Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvernents in Circuit-Breaking Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an improved circuit breaking device. and is particularly serviceable for use in connection with voltage regulators for electric generators.

It is a well known fact that in circuit breaking devices which operate between the direct current and the alternate current magnets of high voltage regulators, the` contacting members often fuse or stick together, and thereby cause delay in the breaking of the circuit. This causes an undesirable pulsating voltage, and often moves the alternating current solenoid plunger out of its proper position.

One object of my invention is to provide means which will compel the separation of said contacting members at the proper time.

Another object is to make my invention of simple construction so that it can be manufactured and installedat a low cost.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will' be described hereinafter, I attain in the following manner, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating direct current and alternating current controlled magnets having my improved circuit breaking device in connection therewith.

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary elevations showing modified forms of my invention.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is the direct current controlled magnet having a movable solenoid plunger 2, which is pivotally connected at 3 to a lever fl, the latter being fulcrumed at 5 on an arm 6 which is secured to the magnet 1.

The lever l has a comparatively rigid eX- tension 7 having a hole 8 adjacent its tree end, said hole forming a guide-way for an adjusting screw 9. the latter having a threaded portion 10 which engages a tapped opening l1 in a head 12, said head l2 being formed adjacent the outer end of a spring plate 13 which is secured to the under face ci the lever 4 as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

The alternating current controlled magnet is shown at. ll, the latter having a mov= able solenoid plunger 15, the lower end ot the latter being movable within a dash pot 16 in the usual manner in voltage regulators oiE the above described type.

The upper end of the plunger 15 is pivoted at 17 to a lever 18, the latter being ful.- crumed at 19 on an arm 20 which is secured to the top of the magnet 14.

An adjusting screw 21 has a threaded portion 22 which fits within a tapped opening 23 adjacent the outer free end ofthe lever 18. The adjusting screws 9 and 21 are nor-V mally in axial alinement and have their ends 24 and 25 designed to contact with each other to complete an electric circuit between the levers 4 and 18.

In theoperation of the device, the solenoid plunger 2 of the direct current con trolled magnet l moves downwardly and consequently moves the end 2G ot' the lever 4 upwardly. This movement also effects an upward movement of the spring plate 13; However,` if the contacting ends and 25 of the screws 9 and 21 are fused or stuck together, the spring plate 13 owing to its thinness and length will bow 0r iex before the contact is broken and thus delay the breaking of the contact and cause the undesirable pulsating current above mentioned. In order to prevent this delay in the breaking of the Contact, I provide an auxiliary spring plate 27 which is spaced below the platel and secured to the lever 4 as clearly shown in Fig. l.

The free end 28 of this spring plate 27 as illustrated in Fig. 1, projects upwardly for a short distance and is positioned between the end of the lever el and the screw 9. It will thus be seen that with this construction, if the spring plate 13 flexes as above noted, the end 28 will after a slight movement, engage the lower surface of said plate 13 and thereby apply a force thereto at a point close to the screws 9 and 21 which will insure the breaking of the contact.

The length and thickness of the spring plate 27 may be varied to suit conditions. Furthermore. it will be noted that the action ot' the end 28 of the spring plate 2T does not only provide a constant pressure, but actually gives a slight tapping movement which insures the breaking ot the contact and tends to drag the screw 9 out of its alined position with the screw 21. thereby not creating a direct upward pull which would lift the cuter end. of the lever 18 auxiliary which might disturb the position of the solenoid plunger l5.

In Fig. 2, l have shown another form of plate spring as indicated at 2S), and instead of having the free Vend turned upwardly as shown in Fig. 1, I forma ridge 0r projection 30 which extends upwardly adjacent the i'i'ee end ot said spring plate 29.

In Fig. 3, the auxiliary plate is liat throughout its entire length as shown at 3l and depends upon the direct engagement of' its tree end 32 to accomplish the purpose as above described. In all other respects the constructions shown in Figs. ,2 and 3 are similar to those illustrated in connection with'F ig. l, and I have therefore given the same like reference numerals. Y

My invention is of great value in the art and is of particular value when used in connection with voltage regulators for generators; however it may be used in connection with any circuit breaking device which hasV elements corresponding to those above described.

While I have described my invention as taking a particular form, it will be understood that the various parts of my invention may be changed without departing from the spirit thereof, andhence I do not limit myself to the precise construction set forth, but consider that I am at liberty toV make such changes and alterations as fairly come within. the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letn ters Iaten; is:

l. The combination in a circuit breaking device including two contacting members, of members forming supports for said contacting members, one of said members being elongated and comparatively liexible, a rigid lever secured to said latter member at a position remote from its contact member, means for moving said lever, an elongated auxiliary member throughout its entire length being spaced from and having a portion designed to be moved into engagement with said latter mentioned member at a pof sitioii between its connection with said lever Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Washington, D. C.

and its contact memberiwhereby lhesepara- Vtionotl the contact members is assured after the lever Vis moved, substantially as described.

2. 'Ihe combination m a circuit members kforming supports t'or said contacting members, one of said members being elongated and comparatively flexible, a rigid lever Vsecured vto said latter member at apo# Y sition remote from itsl Contact member, means Jfor pivotally moving said lever, and a resilient Ielongated auxiliary member con nected to said lever andA throughout its entire length being normally spaced from and having a portion designed tobe moved into engagement with said latter mentioned member at a position between its connection with Y. said lever and` its contact member whereby the separation ot the Contact members is assured when the lever is moved, sul stantially as described. v

3. The combination in a device including two contacting members, members forming supports for said con;

Y tacting members, one of said support members being elongated andcomparatively iiexible, a rigid lever secured to said latterinember at a position remotefrom its contact member, ineans for pivotally moving said lever, an auxiliary member connected to said lever and having an elongated portion which throughout its entire length is Vnormally spaced from said latter mentioned member, said portion also havingv arprojeetion extending toward said latter mentioned support member designed to be moved into engagement therewith at a position between its connection with said lever and lits oontact member whereby the separation of the contacting members is `assured when the lever is moved, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof 'I have'signed my name to this specilication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

i WALTER W. CARPENTER. Witnesses: Y Y

C. F. IViLBnAHAM, Y

Liivrs CLiTHoe.

Commissioner o( Patents,

breaking device including two contacting members, et;

circuit breaking 

